All for Nothing • Ecclesiastes 2

 

 Everything I wanted I took — I never said no to myself. 

I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing. 

I sucked the marrow of pleasure out of every task — 

my reward to myself for a hard day's work! 

 

Ecclesiastes 2:10

 

Then I took a good look at everything I'd done, 

looked at all the sweat and hard work. 

But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke. 

Smoke and spitting into the wind. 

There was nothing to any of it. Nothing. 

 

Ecclesiastes 2:11

•

I work so hard every day
just to have it all undone —
just to have to do it all over again
and again...

Anger
Self-pity
Frustration
Depression
Despair
settles in and I wallow.

What's in it for me?

Where is my reward?

Why do I do all this?

With my eyes locked tight
on me and my desires
all of my work is for nothing.

Dust in the wind.
Ashes blown to sea.

Lord, what are You whispering
to my heart today?

•

Do your best. Work from the heart 

for your real Master, for God, 

confident that you'll get paid in full 

when you come into your inheritance. 

Keep in mind always that the ultimate 

Master you're serving is Christ. 

 

Colossians 3:23-24

 

Don't hoard treasure down here 

where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust 

or — worse! — stolen by burglars. 

Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe 

from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious isn't it? 

The place where your treasure is, 

is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. 

 

Matthew 6:19-21

 

Heaven and earth will pass away, 

but my words will never pass away. 

 

Matthew 24:35

 

True, the grass withers and the wild flowers fade, 

but our God's Word stands firm and forever.

 

Isaiah 40:8

 

Live in Me. Make your home in Me just as I do in you. 

In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself 

but only by being joined to the vine, 

you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with Me. 

I am the Vine, you are the branches. 

When you're joined with me and I with you, 

the relation intimate and organic, 

the harvest is sure to be abundant. 

Separated, you can't produce a thing. 

 

John 15:4-5

 

Love one another the way I loved you. 

This is the very best way to love. 

Put your life on the line for your friends. 

 

John 15:12-13

•

Oh Father, I can be so "me" oriented! 

Too often I am striving to do what pleases me, 

what seemingly gains me the most, 

what makes me the most comfortable. 

But, so lovingly in Your Word, You show me that 

all that striving comes to nothing. 

When I am working for myself in my own effort, 

and apart from You, I can do NOTHING.

Connected to You, doing what You show me to do, 

in Your strength, filled up with Your Word — 

will produce fruit that lasts — treasure in heaven.

Forgive me, Father, for being so self-focused. 

Help me to live in You, working for You and for others. 

Please produce Your fruit in my life — 

everlasting fruit that glorifies You.